Conduit for underground pipes.



H. .M. CLEMENS. CORNDUIT FOR UNDERGROUND PIPES. 'APVPLICATION- FILED FEB. 3. 1915.

' Patented Mag 9, 1916.

I z SHEETS-SHEET] H. M. CLEMENS. CON DUIT FOR UNDERGROUND PIPES.

APPLICATION HLED FEB- 3. 1915- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented May 9,

wi/waooeo HENRY CLEMENS. 0F CANNELTON, INDIANA CONDUIT FOR UNDERGROUND PIPES.

. Application filed February a, 1915. Serial No. 5,923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I.' HENRY M. CLnM nus, a citizen of the United States. and resident of Cannelton. in the county of Perry and State of Indiana. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conduits for Underground Pipes. of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in conduits such as are employed in the installation of steam and hot water pipev lines under ground. the purpose otthe conduits being to protect the contained pipes against outside moisture. to insulate them against heat radiation. and to facilitate their removal and replacement.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a conduit that can be readily installed, one in which branch connections an be easily made, and one in which'the bottom of the conduit will bev clear for drainage purposes.

One of the particular objects of the invention is the provision of a T-section which can be easily opened and closed in connecting branch pipe lines with the main pipe lines.

Another particular object is to provide within the conduit a support for the pipes that will permit the expansion and contraction of the pipe and which will form no obstruction to the drainage along the bottom of the conduit.

In the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts. Figure 1 is a sideele "ation of a conduit embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view oi the T-section. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view through one of the T-sections. Fig. 4 is a similar view through one of the main sections.

The conduit is ot a tubular formation and is constructed of cylindrical sections joined together to form water-tight joints. each section being divided longitudinally with the two members cemented together. The sections are preferably formed of vitrilied fire clay although other suitable materials may be, used for the purpose. and they and their component members are of such a size and. weight as to facilitate the economical handling of the same during the construction of the conduit.

Each of the main c 'lindrical sections 1 is divided longitlulinally through a diametrical plane, as at 2. In placing a mam section its Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1916.

members are laid with the division'between them extending 111 an approxnnately horizontal plane so that the lower member will form a trough and the upper member a cover. the two members being cemented to gether at theirlongitudinal division.

The conduit is principally composed of main sections 1, but at intervals are located the T-sections 3 for the purpose of making branch connections. Each T-section comprises the cylindrical body part r and the cylirulrical branch-stub 5 projecting from the side of the body part. the diameter of the branch-stub being much less than that of the body part. The branch-stub 5 is located on the upper side of the body part so that its top. as at (i. in flush with the top of the body part. The body part is divided diametrically longitudinally. as at 7. as is the branch-stub, as at S. The plane of the division between the branch-stub members meets at an obtuse angle the plane of the division between the body n anbers in a line coincident with the longitudinal periphery of the body member. as at The upper halves of the body part and branch-stub are integral, as are the lower halves. Access to the interior of the T-section for the purpose of making branch connections with the main fluid pipes can be readily had by removing the upper half of the T-section. 4

In making a branch connection with a horizontal fluid main it is desirable to tap the crown of the iiiain rather than its side. To accommodate such a branch connection the ordinary, conduit T-section has its branch-stub projecting from the side of the body part with the axis of the b 'anch-stub in line. with the horizontal diameter of the body part. In such a construction the branch-stub is given an internal diameter the same asthe internal diameter of the body part to accommodate the branch fluid pipes leading off from the crownot' the fluid main. In the present invention. instead of locating the branch-stub on the side of the body part with its axis coincident with the horizontal diameter of the body part. it is located on the upper side of the body part withits axis parallel to and considerably above the horizontal diameter of the body part. By so locating the branch-stub. the latter-may be made with a much shorter dialneter than that of the body part and at the same'timc accommodate the branch fluid pipe leading oil from the crown of the fluid shorter diameter there is a considerable saving of material in the T-section, the trench for the branch conduit need not be.dug so deep, and smaller sections may be used for the branch conduit. y

Owing to the wide variations of temperature in the fluid passing through the fluid main there is considerable contractidn and expansion of the main. Means are provided to take up the movement of the fluid main. In one of the conduit sections ,1, at intervals along the conduit, anti-friction rolls 10 are mounted to carry the fluid mains. These rolls are journaled on the horizontal shaft '11 passing through the opposite walls of the lower half of the section 1. The shaft is held in place by the nuts 12 on its ends outside of the conduit wall. A washer 13 is interposed between .the inner ends of the-- rolls 10 so that the turning of one will not interfere with the turning of the other. The-insulation of the mains is cut away where they rest on the antifriction rolls. There is considerable space beneath the friction rolls so that there will be no obstruction to the drainage of-the conduit beneath the fluid mains.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: \i

1. In a conduit, a T-section comprising a Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing Washington, D. 0.

body part and a branch-stub with the latter having a less cross-area than the former, said branch-stub projecting from the side of the body part approximately flush with the same so that the axis of the branch-stub will 'be above and approximately parallel with the horizontal diameter of the body part, said T-s'ection being divided longitudinally through its body part and branch-stub through the axes of both the body part and the branch-stub, the plane of division through the body part being at an acute angle to the horizontal diameter of the body part and said plane of division of the body part intersecting at an obtuse angle the plane of division of the branch-stub,

2. In a conduit, a cylindrical main section divided longitudinally and horizontally, a horizontal shaft passing through the opposite walls of the lower member adjacent to the "Commissioner of Patents, 

